Cleaning apparatus for concrete and tile

ABSTRACT

A tool for cleaning hard, nonabsorbent surfaces, of various compositions, such as concrete, ceramic tile, or the like, and of varying degrees of roughness or smoothness. The tool includes a movable platform with an outer housing and a structure which defines an interior cavity, the structure being spaced apart from the housing and nested beneath it. A liquid used in the cleaning operation is fed into the cavity through two nozzles located on the ends of a tube. Disposed horizontally, the tube is rigidly attached, in its midsection, to a hollow shaft which is supported vertically by a rotatable bearing/seal component. The latter allows a stationary liquid supply hose to deliver liquid at high pressure, via the hollow shaft, to the tube. The nozzles are positioned so that their flow streams discharge downwardly at a slight angle to the vertical. So discharged, the flow stream imparts a tangential force to the tube causing it to rotate. The rotation of the tube causes the fluid to be applied in a pulse-like sequence, enhancing cleaning action and greatly reducing the rate at which cleaning fluid is consumed. The space between the outer housing and the structure is supplied with a vacuum which sucks up sprayed liquid and any loose dirt, transporting the mixture to a portable storage tank. After the platform passes over a work surface, very little liquid is left thereon, making the tool suitable for indoor cleaning. A filter is provided so that dirt in the cleaning fluid itself can be removed, and the fluid reused.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] As is well known, high pressure water, with or without cleaning chemicals, can be utilized to clean both tiled and bare concrete floors. However, in the past, high pressure liquid cleaners have been found suitable only for use outside of buildings because of the large quantity of water left behind on the floor after a cleaning operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The object of this invention is to provide a portable apparatus, employing a high pressure liquid spray, which can be used to clean floors, whether the floors are tiled or have exposed concrete and wherever they are situated.

[0003] A further object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus which is highly maneuverable in all directions, so that it can be easily moved around objects within a building.

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus which can be used to deliver a high pressure liquid spray to such a floor and simultaneously remove both the liquid and any dirt loosened by the spraying action in such a way that a minimum of the sprayed liquid is left on the floor.

[0005] The apparatus comprises a movable platform having a double-walled structure which defines an interior cavity. Liquid under high pressure is fed into the cavity through two nozzles located on the distal ends of a tube, which forms the arms of an inverted “T”-shaped element. Disposed horizontally, the tube is both fluidly and rigidly connected to a hollow shaft which is supported vertically by a rotatable bearing/seal component. Secured to the double-walled structure, the rotatable bearing/seal component allows a stationary liquid supply hose to deliver liquid at high pressure, via the hollow shaft, to the tube. A suitable rotatable union/seal component is Model No. 927, manufactured by the Deublin Company, Waukegan, Ill., and distributed as part No. 85,790,004 by the Chemical Feed Equipment Company, Norcross, Ga.

[0006] The nozzles themselves are positioned so that the discharge of each is directed downwardly and at a slight angle to the vertical. The nozzles are so oriented that their discharges impart an unbalanced, tangential force to the tube causing it to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In the preferred embodiment, this slight angle measures, by way of example, approximately 10 degrees. As the tube rotates, the cleaning fluid is applied in a pulse-like sequence, enhancing cleaning action and greatly reducing the rate at which cleaning fluid is consumed.

[0007] Terminating downwardly in at least one narrow opening which rims the lowermost edges of the double-walled structure is a passageway, defined thereby, which is fluidly connected to an external vacuum source. The vacuum source is employed to suck up the sprayed liquid and any loose dirt, transporting the mixture to a portable storage tank. After the platform passes over a work surface, very little liquid is left thereon, making the the apparatus suitable for indoor cleaning.

[0008] Preferably, a filter is provided so that dirt particles entrained in the cleaning fluid itself can be removed; and the fluid reused.

[0009] A high degree of maneuverability is achieved with the apparatus by mounting the platform atop two sets of cantilevered arms in which each arm rests on a caster roller. In the preferred embodiment, one set of arms extends downwardly and forwardly, and the other downwardly and rearwardly, of the platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a top right side perspective view of the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a top right side perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the platform in the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the platform in the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1, in which the air supply hose has been disconnected and only a fragmentary portion of the liquid supply hose is shown;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the platform in the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the platform in the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the platform in the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view of the rotating tube with nozzles within the platform, the remainder of the platform being shown in cross-section, the cross-section being taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 3;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a schematic of support equipment for the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1; and

[0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support equipment according to FIG. 8 and a trailer in which the support equipment is mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, comprises a movable platform 11 having an outer housing 12 and an inner structure 13. Nested beneath the housing 12, the structure 13 is spaced therefrom, forming a central cavity which opens downwardly but is otherwise surrounded by hollow sidewalls 16, 17, 18 and 19. The hollow sidewalls terminate downwardly in at least one narrow, elongated opening which rims the cavity and is fluidly connected, via fitting 14, to a vacuum hose 15 (FIGS. 6 and 7). In use, the elongated opening and the lower edges of the sidewalls 16, 17, 18, 19 are disposed only a small fraction of an inch above the surface 40 to be cleaned.

[0020] Affixed to the sidewalls 16, 17, 18 and 19, proximate with their lower edges, are seals 20, 21, 22, 23, respectively (FIGS. 5 through 7). In the preferred embodiment, fasteners which allow the position of the seals 20, 21, 22, 23 to be adjusted vertically are utilized.

[0021] Within the central cavity, a tube 35 equipped with nozzles 36 is mounted on a hollow shaft (FIGS. 4 and 7). A stationary fluid supply hose 28 and the tube 35 are fluidly connected to distal ends, respectively, of a rotatable union/seal component 34 which penetrates both the housing 12 and the structure 13 (FIG. 7). A suitable rotatable union/seal component is Model No. 927, manufactured by the Deublin Company, Waukegan, Ill. Rigidly attached to a flange which extends laterally from the component 34 is a spacer, concentric therewith (FIG. 7). The spacer, juxtaposed between the housing 12 and the structure 13, not only holds them in assembled relation but also forms an airtight seal with each of them.

[0022] Oriented so that any spray discharged from the apparatus 10 will be directed downwardly and at a small angle offset from the perpendicular to the work surface 40, the nozzles 36 comprise propulsion means for the tube 35. With the nozzles 36 so oriented, their flows impart an unbalanced, tangential force to the tube 35, causing it to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In the preferred embodiment, this small angle measures, by way of example, approximately 10 degrees.

[0023] Moreover, the rotating spray mechanism enhances the cleaning action of the apparatus 10 because the surface 40 beneath the platform 11 is inundated in a pulse-like sequence, rather than constantly. In between pulses, dirty water is evacuated and any loosened debris subjected to suction forces, thereby expediting the cleaning process.

[0024] Sucked through the narrow opening rimming the cavity beneath the platform 11 and into the space between the outer housing 12 and the structure 13, sprayed liquid and any loose dirt entrained therein are transported, via the vacuum hose 15, to a portable recovery tank 38 (FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0025] After the platform 11 passes over a work surface 40, very little liquid is left thereon, making the apparatus 10 suitable for indoor cleaning. It has been found experimentally that for a medium roughness concrete surface, water capture is good when the seals 20, 21, 22, 23 are adjusted so that their lower edges are disposed approximately ¼ inch above the surface 40.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 10 uses water or water mixed with a chemical as the cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid is stored in a supply tank 31 in a trailer 30. A manually controlled valve 26 fluidly connects liquid supply hoses 28 and 33 and is used to control the flow of cleaning fluid to the platform 11 (FIG. 1). A supply tank 31 and recovery tank 38 having capacities of approximately 330 gallons and 175 gallons, respectively, have been found to be suitable for routine cleaning jobs using a platform 11 with a footprint measuring about 20 inches on a side.

[0027] The apparatus 10 is preferably powered by a dual hose connection to a trailer 30 in which are housed support equipment including a high pressure liquid pump 32 and a high volume blower 41. The pump 32 and blower 41 are driven, via pulleys 42 and 48, respectively, by a motor 29 (FIGS. 8 and 9). In the preferred embodiment, the pump 32 has flow rate of 4 gallons per minute at a pressure of 3500 pounds per square inch; and the blower 41 has an air flow rate of 280 cubic feet per minute. The air supply hose 15 and the liquid supply hose 33 can be wound on spools 44 and 45, respectively, to facilitate storage and transport (FIG. 9).

[0028] Illustrated in FIG. 8 are two embodiments of the support equipment for the apparatus 11. Support equipment components shown in solid lines in FIG. 8, in combination with the apparatus 10, comprise an once-through system in which the recovered cleaning fluid, together with any particulates and other contaminants removed in the cleaning process, is stored in the recovery tank 38.

[0029] In an alternate embodiment which includes the support equipment components shown in both solid and dashed lines on FIG. 8, the recovered cleaning fluid is passed through a filter 51 en route to the recovery tank 38. Valve 46 in a recycle line 39 can be opened periodically, with motor 29 shut down, to allow the filtered cleaning fluid to drain into the supply tank 31 for reuse.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment, the platform 11 weighs under 30 pounds and is rolled about on caster rollers 24 (FIGS. 1 through 7). Mounted atop two sets of cantilevered arms in which each arm rests on a caster roller 24, the platform 11 is highly maneuverable in all directions and easily moved around objects in a building. In addition, a handle 25 for propelling and guiding the platform 11 is pivotally attached thereto by brackets 27 mounted on the housing 12.

[0031] It is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive other applications, modifications and/or changes in the invention described above. Any such applications, modifications or changes which fall within the purview of the description are intended to be illustrative and not intended to be limitative. The scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

It is claimed:
 1. A high pressure spray cleaning system, comprising: (a) a source of high volume suction air flow; (b) a movable platform having an outer housing, an inner structure, and a spacer, the spacer being rigidly juxtaposed between the housing and the structure, the structure defining both a large opening and an interior cavity, the structure terminating downwardly in said opening; the structure being nested beneath the outer housing and spaced therefrom, the structure and the housing together defining at least one narrow, elongated aperture which rims the cavity and is fluidly connected to said source; (c) at least one pair of spray nozzles mounted within the cavity; and (d) means for delivering liquid at high pressure to the spray nozzles, the nozzles being so positioned that the liquid discharges downwardly; the source of high volume suction air flow, in use, pulling liquid pooled proximate with the elongated, narrow aperture upwardly and thereinto.
 2. The high pressure spray cleaning system according to claim 1, which further comprises an inverted “T”-shaped element rotatably mounted within the cavity, the spray nozzles being attached to distal ends of the “T”-shaped element; and wherein the nozzles are so positioned that the liquid delivered at high pressure discharges downwardly at a slight angle to the vertical, imparting a tangential force to the “T”-shaped element and causing it to rotate about its longitudinal centerline.
 3. The spray-vacuum cleaning system according to claim 1, which further comprises means, including at least one seal adjustably fastened to lowermost portions of the outer housing, for capturing liquid sprayed from the nozzles and enhancing suction action as the source of high volume suction air flow pulls liquid pooled proximate with the elongated, narrow aperture upwardly and thereinto.
 4. The spray-vacuum cleaning system having a platform supplied by a source of high pressure cleaning liquid and a source of high volume suction air flow a for cleaning hard generally flat surfaces such as concrete or tile according to claim 1 in which the platform further comprises a seal along the lower edges of the sides to enhance the suction action on the surface.
 5. The spray-vacuum cleaning system according to claim 1, which further comprises a set casters mounted externally to the housing and means for adjusting the height of the lowermost edges of the outer housing. 